Escapement mechanism

ABSTRACT

A driven mobile having a plug secured to a first shaft with a plurality of arms radially extending from the plug. Objects of interest are secured to each arm and means is provided for allowing each object to oscillate about the arm to which it is attached as said first shaft is rotated. A spring motor is provided for supplying energy for rotating the first shaft. An escapement mechanism controls the rotation of the first shaft and includes a tube that is rotatable in conjunction with the first shaft. The tube is enclosed at its ends and has a pair of magnets therein. The magnets have their south poles facing each other with the north poles diametrically opposed to each other. The magnets can move within the tube. A lever is positioned adjacent the tube bottom when the tube is vertical, is rotatable about an axis to a vertical position and includes a stop. The stop prevents rotation of the tube when the lever is in the vertical position. A magnetic means biases the lever to the vertical position. If the tube is in a vertical position with the magnets therein at the top of the tube, the lever will be in a vertical position as a result of the magnetic biasing means and the stop will prevent rotation of the tube. The magnets in the tube will descend to the bottom of the tube under the influence of gravity and the bottommost magnet overcomes the magnetic biasing means and any frictional forces and causes the lever to be moved out of its vertical position. Consequently, the tube and first shaft are free to rotate. After the tube is rotated a few degrees, the magnetic biasing means then moves the lever to a vertical position and the cycle is again repeated after the tube has come to a vertical position.

United States Patent 1191 Stubbmann I 1451 *May 7,1974

- [22] Filed:

[ ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM Albert Stubbmann, Franklin Lakes, NJ.

[73] I Assignee: Kohner Bros. Inc., East Paterson,

The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Oct. 17, 1989, hasbeen disclaimed.

July 3, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 268,307

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 122,471, March 9,1971, Pat.

[75] lnventor:

[ Notice:

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-A. J. HeinzAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard J. Newby; C. Garman Hubbard; Bruno P.Struzzi [5 7 ABSTRACT A driven mobile having a plug secured to a firstshaft with a plurality of arms radially extendmg from the plug. Objectsof interest are secured to each arm and means is provided for allowingeach object to oscillate about the arm to which it is attached as saidfirst shaft is rotated. A spring motor is provided for supplying energyfor rotating the first shaft. An escapement mechanism controls therotation of the first shaft and includes a tube that is rotatable inconjunction with the first shaft. The tubeis enclosed at its ends andhas a pair of magnets therein. The magnets have their south poles facingeach other with the north poles diametrically opposed to each other. Themagnets can move within the tube. A lever is positioned adjacent thetube bottom when the tube is vertical, is rotatable about an axis to avertical position and includes a stop. The stop prevents rotation of thetube when the lever is in the vertical position. A magnetic means biasesthe lever to the vertical position. If the tube is in a verticalposition with the magnets therein at the top of the tube, the lever willbe in a vertical position as a result of the magnetic biasing means andthe stop will prevent rotation of the tube. The magnets in the tube willdescend to the bottom of the tube under the influence of gravity and thebottommost magnet overcomes the magnetic biasing means and anyfrictional forces and tion. Consequently, the tube and first shaft arefree to rotate. After the tube is rotated a few degrees, the magneticbiasing means then moves the lever to a vertical position and the cycleis again repeated after the tube has come to a vertical position. a

3 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEUIAY 1 m4 sx'acvsm'le SHEET 1 BF 5Pmmmm mm 3.808719 SHEET 3 UF 5 v PATENTEDNAY 7 1914 sum u UF 5 m FIGIIFIG. l2

FIG. IO

ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM This is a division of application Ser. No. 122,471filed Mar. 9, 1971 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,252.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Mobile havingnovel drive means 2. Description of the Prior Art Driven mobiles havebeen known and used for many years for entertaining babies and youngchildren. As an example, one type of prior art mobile included aplurality of attention getting objects which were suspended from acanopy. The canopy was secured to a side of a crib by clamping means soas to be generally horizontal and a driving means was provided forcontinually rotating the canopy and the objects suspended therefrom.Usually the objects were shaped to stimulate different animals such aselephants, tigers, etc. However, quite frequently the continued rotationof the objects of interest about an axis of rotation did not maintainthe babies or young childs interest for longer than a few minutes as thecontinued rotation rapidly became monotonous. Other types of mobileswere of course known as will be apparent to those knowledgeable in theart.

Many prior art driven mobiles included a spring wound motor forsupplying the driving force for the mobile. Typically, many of thesemotors included a winding key which upon being rotated supplied energyto a spring that in turn drove the mobile. However, with most prior artdriven mobiles the mobile was driven continuously by the motor for onlya very short period of time, e.g., a few minutes, after which rewindingof the key was required to continue operation of the mobile. This wasundesireable since one of the objects of a mobile is to maintain thechilds interest for a long period of time without the need for adultattention and the few minutes most prior art mobiles were able to runcontinuously for made the mobile unsuitable for this intended purpose.

Still anotherdisadvantage of many prior art driven mobiles of the typehereinabove described was that once the mobile had been attached to acrib or some other similar item of baby furniture at a particularlocation thereon it was difficult to vary the orientation of the mobileat the location in an attempt to obtain the orientation which wouldmaximize the interest of a baby or young child in the mobile.

Some prior art mobiles had sound producing means which often was a musicbox that was separate from the mobile. Usually the music box had its owndrive means which generally comprised a spring motor that was wound andwhich, like the mobile, ran for-a few minutes during which time musicwas provided and then stopped running. As with the mobile itself, thelimited amount of time which the music box could be played forcontinuously upon a single winding detracted from its ability to assistin entertaining a baby or young child.

Many of the prior art mobiles that had a spring motor as the drivingmeans included some sort of governor to regulate the speed of themobile. However, the governor in no way protracted the running of themobile after the spring motor therefor had been wound.

It is readily apparent that if a driven mobile could be provided whichupon receiving a given input of energy would operate for a substantialperiod of time it would SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore anobject of the present invention to provide an improved driven mobile.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to providean improved driven mobile which can be run for a substantial continuousperiod of time without the need for any attention.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved driven mobile having a plurality of attention getting objectswhich are rotated about a common axis of rotation with each objecthaving an axis about which it can be oscillated.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a drivenmobile having at least one attention getting object and a music box withthere being means for rotating in increments the object about an axisperiodically throughout a substantial period of time and for playing themusic box intermittently during the substantial period of time.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a drivenmobile which can be driven for discrete periods of time throughout asubstantial continuous total period of time and intermittently produce apleasing audio signal throughout said total period of time.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a drivenmobile of the type herein described wherein the mobile can be secured ina number of positions on an object such as a crib, etc., and placed in aplurality of different orientations at each position so that anorientation can be selected at each position which will maximize theinterest of an infant or young child in the mobile.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anescapement mechanism for a mobile wherein the escapement mechanisminsures that drive means for the mobile will drive the mobileperiodically during a substantial continuous period of time for eachinput of energy to the drive means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedgeneral utility escapement mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide anescapement mechanism which can be used in a driven mobile as hereinaboveset forth and which also has general utility.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, the foregoing andother objects are achieved by a driven mobile having a plurality of armswhich are fixed relative to a first shaft and rotatable therewith. Thefree ends of each of said arms are bent perpendicularly to the rest ofsaid arms and an object of interest is secured to the bent end of eachof said-arms. The object of in-' terest can be a simulated elephant, asimulated tiger, a simulated horse, etc. Means is provided for allowingeach object of interest to oscillate about the bent portion of the armto which it is secured as the arm is rotated with the shaft.

A drive means is provided for periodically rotating the shaft andincludes a spring driven motor. The spring driven motor rotates a secondshaft which is secured to a portion of the mobile housing. A first pairof step up engaged gears are secured to the first and second shafts torotate the shafts together with the first shaft, as a result of the stepup gears rotating faster than the second shaft. A second pair of step upengaged gears is provided and one gear thereof is rotatable with a thirdshaft and the other with the first shaft, with the third shaft, as aresult of the step up gears, rotating faster than the first shaft. Anescapement mechanism controls the rotation of said third shaft and hencethat of said first and second shafts.

The escapement mechanism includes a tube which is closed at opposed endsand fixed to said third shaft. Located in said tube are a pair ofmagnets which are separated from each other by a non-magnetic spacer.The magnets are arranged so that identical poles such as the south polesare positioned adjacent the spacer with the north poles of said magnetsbeing diametrically opposed to each other. Preferably, the magnets andthe spacer are all of the same cross-section which is slightly smallerthan the cross-section of the inside of the tube. A low viscousity fluidsuch as water or mineral oil is located in the tube for a purpose thatwill soon be apparent.

Secured to the mobile housing in a position that is adjacent the bottomof the tube when the tube is in a vertical position is a lever which isrotatable about a horizontal axis to a vertical position. The leverincludes a stop and when the lever is vertical the stop is in the pathof rotation of the tube to prevent any rotation thereof. The lever atits uppermost portion includes a magnet having two faces with the faceof the magnet closest to the tube being the north pole and the otherface of said magnet being the south pole. Attached to the mobile housingis a further magnet which is in registry with the magnet located on thelever when the lever is vertical and has its south pole facing andadjacent the south pole of the magnet located on the lever.

As a result of the above arrangement the lever is biased to pivot aboutits rotational axis so that its magnet moves as far away from the magneton said housing and means is provided for limiting the rotation of thelever to a vertical position.

In operation, when the spring motor is wound there will be a torqueapplied to the second shaft which will tend to rotate the gear securedthereto. This in turn will apply a driving force to the gear on thefirst shaft which is in engagement with the gear on the second shaft.However one of the gears on the first shaft is in engagement with a gearon the third shaft. The third shaft cannot rotate unless the tube whichis rotatable therewith is free to rotate. Assuming that the tube is in avertical position with the spaced-apart magnets therein near the thentop of the tube it can be seen that the tube and hence the'third shaftand other shafts will not be able to rotate. This is because the magneton the lever will be urged away from the magnet on the housing so thatthe lever will be in a vertical position and the stop thereon willprevent the tube from rotating. The spaced-apart magnets within the tubewill slowly descend to the bottom of said tube under the force ofgravity with some of the fluid within the tube moving along the sides ofthe magnets and the spacer upwardly during this downward descent. Thefluid within the tube controls the rate of descent of'the magnets and adash pot effect is created.

When the downward descent is finished the north pole of the bottommostmagnet in the tube will be in contact with the bottom of the tube andwill repel the north pole of the magnet on the lever and the lever willpivot in a direction away from the tube so that the stop is no longerpreventing the tube from rotating. It is to be appreciated that themoment on the lever from the magnetic repulsion between the south polesof the magnets on the lever and on the housing and the frictional forcebetween the stop and tube is less than the moment on the lever from therepulsion between the north pole of the magnet carried by the lever andthe north pole of the magnet in the tube that is at the then bottom ofthe tube and which urges the lever away from the vertical position.Consequently, as a result of the above described arrangement of parts,the lever no longer is positioned so that its stop halts rotation of thetube and the tube is free to rotate. The three shafts can now rotateunder the influence of the spring motor. This results in the arms whichare secured relative to said first shaft rotating. Each of the objectsof interest in turn oscillates about the end of the arm to which it isattached with, as mentioned above, means being attached to each objectto prevent said object from making a complete rotation about the end ofthe arm but merely oscillating about said end. As soon as the tube isrotated a few degrees as a result of the rotation of said shafts, themagnet which was at the bottom of the tube previously will no longer bepositioned adjacent the lever and the repulsion between the magnet onthe housing and the magnet on the lever will move the lever to thevertical position so that its stop will prevent the tube from rotatingfurther when the tube again comes to avertical position after it hasrotated At this time, rotation of the three shafts will be stopped andthe cycle again repeated.

If desired, means can be provided for intermittently sounding a chimewhile the mobile is operating. This can be done by having pins rotate inconjunction with the second shaft. Preferably four pins are utilized,attached to the motor and are symmetrically positioned about the axis ofrotation of the second shaft. Guide pins are secured to the mobilehousing and a frame member having internal slotsis positioned with theguide pins extending through said slots. Means is provided for elevatingand lowering the frame member for ninety degrees of rotation of thesecond shaft. Attached to the frame member is a chime striker andpositioned beneath said chime striker and secured to said housing is achime bar. Each time the frame member is elevated and lowered, the chimestriker hits the chime bar to produce a sound.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention a music box issecured to the mobile housing. The music box has a lever which whenelevated allows said music box to play and which when horizontal or inits normal position prevents the music box from being played. Means isprovided for elevating and lowering a frame member for ninety degrees ofrotation of the second shaft and the music box lever is actuated by theframe. Thus, when the frame is liftedthe music box plays and when theframe is in its lower position the music box does not play.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent to the reader in the following description.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which willbeexemplified in the device hereinafter described and of which the scopeof application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partially broken rear plan view showing the escapementmechanism and chime structure of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially broken left view of the escapement mechanism andspring motor drive;

FIG. 6 is a right side partially broken right view of a portion of theescapement structure;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the spring motor and windingmeans therefor;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of the ratchet shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view 'of the stop shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are front plan views showing the means for preventingeach sheave for the spring motor from being rotated when nearly all thestrip of spring material has been placed on other sheave;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing how the embodiment of the presentinvention can be utilized on a child's crib;

FIG. 14 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the mobile toa crib;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of an alternate intermittent motionmechanism of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a side view of an alternate method of securing the mobile toa crib.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings anembodiment of the present invention is illustrated and includes ahousing 10 having a front wall 10a and a panel on wall 10a which whilebeing shown as having a particular shape could obviously be of anyconfiguration. Secured to rear wall 10b of housing 10 is cover 13 withthe cover only shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 and FIG. 16 so that thedetails of the present invention are readily apparent. A hub 14 issecured for rotation relative to panel 12 as will hereinafter bedescribed and arms 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 are radially secured to hub 14symmetrically about the periphery of said hub. The hub may be made ofplastic or any other material as will be apparent to those skilled inthe art while the arms may be made of any ferrous material or for thatmatter of any other material which has good rigidity and a long servicelife. Arms 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 are identical to each other andaccordingly a description of one arm will suffice for an understandingof the present invention.

Arm 18 is L-shaped and includes a longer leg 18a and a shorter leg 18bwhich extends perpendicularly from the free end of leg 18a in adirection so as to be pointd away from panel 12 and perpendicularthereto. Rotatable about leg 18b is a cylindrical bearing member 26which is selected to be of a size so that it is freely rotatable aboutleg 18b and means is provided for preventing said member from slidingaxially along the leg and off the free end thereof. These means can beconventional as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Secured to the rear of bearing member 26 is an arm 26b which isperpendicular to the bearing member. A locking link 260 extends from theend of arm 26b which is not attached to bearing member 26, isperpendicular to arm 26b and extends rearwardly away therefrom for areason which will soon be apparent. Secured to and rotatable withbearing member 26 is an object of interest 28 which could be asimulation of an animal, of a person, etc. It is to be appreciated whilecertain objects of interest are shown in the drawings and while fivearms are shown to which said objects are attached that any number ofarms could be utilized and any different objects of interest could beattached to said arms. The means of securing the object of interest tothe bearing member includes passing the bearing member through theobject of interest at a point in the object spaced from its center ofgravity.

As can be seen in FIG. 2 clamping means 32 is attached to the rear ofhousing 10 at the bottom thereof for attaching the housing to a cribfootboard (see FIG. 13) or some other furniture item. The clampingstructure is shown and designed so as to be able to clamp the mobile toa piece of furniture at a given location and at different orientationsat the location. The clamping means may be conventional as will beapparent to those skilled in the art. Preferably the clamping means isarranged in a manner such that the axis of rotation of the hub tiltsdownward at a slight angle, e.g., 30 to the vertical, whereby the toysquarely faces an infant lying in the crib.

As can be seen in the FIGS. a spring motor 34 is provided for rotatingthe mobile of the present invention. Spring motor 34 can be conventionaland preferably is a constant torque motor such as the HUNTER NEGA- TORproduced by Hunter Spring of Hatfield, Pennsylvania which is describedherein. Of course, other types could be used if desired. Spring motor 34includes an upper sheave 36 and a lower sheave 38 with both sheavesadjacent wall 10b and outside housing 10. Sheave 36 is rotatableabout ashaft 40 which is suitably journalled between opposed side walls 10a and10b of housing 10. Sheave 38 is rotatable counter-clockwise (as viewedin FIG. 4) with a shaft 41 which is suitably journalled between theopposed walls of housing 10. The manner of rotating sheave 38 in aclockwise direction about the shaft 41 will hereinafter be described. Athin strip of material 44, such as a strip'of steel, is stressed to theform of a tight spiral coil with its ends secured in reverse curvatureto sheaves 36 and 38. R0- tatable with sheave 38 are pins 46, 48, 50 and52 at increments about the periphery of the sheave on the back thereof.The pins all have one-way cammed ends for a reason soon to be apparent.Sheave 38 includes a notch 38a in its base and a pawl 53 is pivotableabout an axis defined by a pin 56 which is secured to housing 10. Thepawl is biased toward the sheave by a hair pin spring 58. The notch andpawl are arranged so that when the pawl contacts the base of the sheaveand engages the notch therein which occurs when only the terminalportion of the stressed strip is wound thereon the sheeve 38 cannotrotate in a counter-clockwise direction. In a similar fashion a pawl 60is pivotable about a pin 62 which is secured to housing 10 and a hairpin spring 64 biases pawl 62 into contact with a notch in the base ofsheave 36 so that when the pawl 62 is engaged in the notch the sheavecannot rotate counterclockwise. Material 44 is stressed so that if bothsheaves are free to rotate the material will wind itself about sheave 36and in so doing will drive the sheave 38 in a counter clockwisedirection.

A gear 66 is keyed to shaft 41 or is otherwise secured to the shaft soas to be rotatable therewith and spacer 68, prevents the gear frommoving axially. A shaft 70 is journalled between walls a and 10b ofhousing 10 and secured thereto is a gear 72 which has a smaller diameterthan gear 66 and is in engagement therewith. Also rotatable with shaft70 is a gear 80 and spacers 82 and 83 prevent gears 72 and 80 frommoving axially. If

desired, gears 72 and 80 may be made integral with each other. Anothershaft 84 is journalled between walls 10a and 10b and a gear 86 issecured thereto. Gear 86 is smaller than gear 80 and is in meshtherewith and spacers 88 are provided on shaft 84 to prevent gear 86from moving axially.

The means for energizing motor 34 can best be seen in FIG. 7 andincludes a key 90. Key 90 may be made of plastic, metal or any othermaterial and includes a hollow central portion 90a. Portion 41a of shaft41 extends partway through the hollow central portion of key 90 and isjoined to a smaller diameter shaft 92. A sleeve 100 is secured to key 90at the hollow central portion 900 and includes an annular wall 100a withshaft 92 extending therethrough and slightly past key 90. A washer 94surrounds the rightmost end of shaft 92 as viewed in FIG. 7 and a nut 96is placed inengagement with the threaded end of shaft 92 to hold saidwasher in placefThe washer is large enough to prevent a spring 98, whichcontacts annular wall 100a, from expanding through the right end ofhollow central portion 90a.

Secured to sleeve 100 is sheave 38 as well as a stop 102. As can be seenin FIG. 9 stop 102 has an S configuration, is made of spring steel andhas bent fingers 102a and l02b at the ends thereof. The fingers are fora purpose that will soon be readily apparent. Secured to shaft 41 is aratchet 104 which includes a series of raised teeth for a reason thatwill soon be apparent. Shaft 70 extends through panel 12 and hub 14 isrotatable therewith.

Rotatable with shaft 84 is a tube 106 which may be made of any suitablenon-magnetic material such as plastic. The means for securing tube 106to shaft 84 can be conventional such as the cradle shown in thedrawings. Tube 106 is closed at its opposite ends and located thereinare magnets 108 and 110 which are attached to a non-magnetic spacer 1 12and jointly constitute a plunger. Magnets 108 and 110 are arranged tohave their south poles facing each other and their north poles facingtoward the ends of tube 106. The magnets preferably are of equalstrength. Magnets 108, 110 and spacer 112 are of the same cross-sectionwhich is slightly smaller than the cross-section defined by the insidesurface of tube 106. Located within tube 106 is a viscous fluid such aswater, mineral oil, etc., and the spacer and magnets can slide from oneend of the tube to the other as will hereinafter be described.

Secured to housing wall 10b is a magnet 114 which has its south polefacing tube 106. Magnet 114 as well as magnets 106 and 108 and the othermagnets which will hereinafter be described may be conventional ceramicmagnets or other types of magnets as will be ap parent to those who areskilled in the art. Extending from wall 10b and flanking magnet 114 aretriangularly shaped supports 116 and 118 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Secured to thefree end of the base of supports 116 and 118 is a pin 120. Rotatableabout pin 120 is a lever 122 which includes a stop 124 at one edgethereof. A magnet 126 is positioned on lever 122 and extendstherethrough and has its south pole facing the south pole of magnet 114.A pin 127 is provided on support 116 for limiting the rotation of lever122 away from wall 10b to a vertical position. Lever 122 is positionedsuch that when the lever is in the vertical position shown in FIG. 5 thestop thereon will prevent rotation of tube 106 with said tube verticaland the magnet 126 will be positioned adjacent the bottom of said tubeand in registry with magnet 114. The strength of the magnets is selectedso that when the magnets within tube 106 are in the position shown inFIG. 6 the moment resulting from the repulsion between the south pole ofmagnet 114 and the south pole of magnet 126 and the frictional forcebetween tube 106 and stop 124 with the tube urged to rotate by theaction of the spring motor which biases the lever to a vertical positionis less than the moment from the repulsion between the bottom face ofthe bottom magnet within tube 106 and the north pole of magnet 126 whichurges the lever away from the vertical positron.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention as just described is asfollows. Key is wound in a clockwise direction and as the key is rotatedsleeve rotates therewith rotating stop 102 in unison therewith. The endsof the stop slide over the raised teeth of ratchet 104. The ratchetteeth and the ends of the stop mutually shaped so that the stop may moveclockwise relative to the ratchet but not counter-clockwise relativethereto. Thus it can be seen that the ratchet and stop prevent the keyfrom being unwound unless shaft 41 rotates.

Rotation of the key results in sheave 38 rotating in a clockwisedirection viewing the sheave from the back as seen in FIG. 4. Thisresults in the stressed material 44 being unwound from sheave 36 whichrotates in a counter-clockwise direction and wound about sheave 38.Continued rotation of the key 90 results in greater quantities ofmaterial 44 being wound about sheave 38. When the strip of material 44has been almost entirely unwound from sheave 36 and placed about sheave38 pawl 60 engages with the notch on the periphery of the base of sheave36 (FIG. 12) to prevent further rotation of sheave 36. This insures thatstrip of material 44 will not be pulled loose from sheave 36 under theinfluence of key 90 rotating sheave 38.

The spring motor is now supplied with energy and it is assumed forpurposes of illustration that tube 106 is in a vertical position withmagnets 108 and at the then top of the tube and lever 122 positioned sostop 124 prevents rotation of the tube with magnet 126 maintaining lever122 in the position where the stop prevents rotation of the tube. Themagnets in tube 106 slowly descend under the influence of gravity withsome of the liquid therein moving from the bottom to the top of the tubeuntil the bottommost magnet reaches the bottom of tube 106. The momenton the lever urging it away from the vertical position resulting fromthe repulsion between the magnet at the bottom of tube 106 and magnet126 is greater than the moment on the lever urging it to a verticalposition resulting from the repulsion between magnet 126 and 114 and thefrictional force between tube 106 and stop 124. As a result, lever 122is pivoted about its pivot point to the position seen in FIG. 6 so thatstop 124 is no longer impeding rotation of tube 106. Consequently, tube106 is free to rotate as are shafts 84, 70, 41 and 40 which results inhub 14 rotating. The rotation of hub 14 rotates arms 16, 18, 20, 22 and24.

As hub 14 rotates each object of interest remains vertical (erect) sothat locking link 26c rotates relative to the leg 18b until link 26cstrikes leg 18b at which time the object stops turning relative to leg18b. The object loses its erect stance when its center of gravity passesover the axis of leg 18b and swings to an erect position and while sodoing oscillates a few times to the enjoyment of an observer. The otherobjects of interest operate in a similar manner.

When tube 106 rotates out of its vertical position the repulsive forcesbetween magnets 126 and 114 bring the lever 122 to a vertical positionready to stop tube 106 at the end of its next 180 of rotation. Thuscontinued rotation of tube 106 to a vertical position brings the tube incontact with stop 124 with the magnets at the top of the tube and thecycle can again be repeated.

If desired. the stop arrangement could be shifted from the positionshown in the FIGS. to another location for stopping the tube fromrotating at a different orientation of the tube.

If desired, means can be provided for intermittently striking a chimeduring the operation of the mobile. The means can best be seen in FIG. 4and includes a frame member 144 which is a generally elongated member.Frame member 144 includes a vertical slot 1440 at its upper portion anda vertical slot l44b at its lower portion. Pins 140 and 142 are fixed tohousing wall 10b and extend perpendicularly outward therefrom. Pin 140is received in slot 1440 whereas pin 142 is received in slot 144b. Theupper portion of frame member 144 includes a toothed end which ispositioned as shown in FIG. 4 so as to be in the path of travel of thepins 46, 48, 50 and 52 which are attached to sheave 38. Secured to thelowermost portion of frame member 144 is one end ofa light helicalspring 146 and a striker member 148 is secured to the other end of thespring. Striker member 148 is received within a stationary sleeve 150and a damping means 152 is located within the sleeve and in contact withthe striker member. The damping means may comprise a felt washer incontact with the striker member and guides it in its movement. A chimebar 154 is positioned beneath sleeve 152 and posts 156 and 158 extendthrough said chime bar. The posts are secured to housing 10. Rubbergrommets 160 and 162 acoustically isolate the chime bar from therespective posts. A spring 166 secured to housing 10 biases frame member144 in a downwards direction.

The intermittent 180 rotation of tube 106 results in a substantiallylesser degree of rotation of shaft 41 as a result of the gear ratios ofthe different gears which interconnect shafts 41, 70 and 84. Asufficient amount of rotation of sheave 38 results in one of the pinssecured to the back of said sheave (FIG. 4) lifting the toothed end offrame member 144 in an upwards direction and moving to the left relativeto said frame member until the then operative pin clears the toothed endand permits the frame member to descend to the position shown in FIG. 4with pins 140 and 142 preventing further descent. Spring 166 and gravitybrings frame member 144 rapidly to its downward position and thedownward momentum of striker member 148 stretches spring 146. Strikermember 148 strikes chime bar 154 producing a chime and returns under thebias of spring 146 to the position shown in FIG. 4. It should be notedthat by having the ends of pins 46, 48, 50 and 52 cammed in onedirection and by use of spring 98 the spring can be compressed as thepins slide over the hooked end of member 144 and member 206 when key 90is rotated. For all other operating conditions the pins cannot slideover members 144 and 206 but move said members for a purpose that willsoon be apparent. A description of the operation of member 206 ishereinafter set forth.

The present invention may include a music box 200 which canintermittently play. The music box 200 may be conventional and issecured to housing 10 as shown in FIG. 14. The music box includes alever 202 which when elevated allows the music box to operate and whichwhen in the position shown in FIG. 14'prevents operation of the musicbox. A key 203 is provided for winding up the music box. A frame member206 having an upright section 206a with slots 206b and 2066 locatedrespectively at the upper and lower portions thereof is provided forcontrolling the operation of the music box. Frame member 206 includes atooth 207 at its uppermost portion and pins 210 and 212 are secured tothe housing and respectively received in the slots 206b and 206C. Thetooth 207 is positioned adjacent sheave 38 in the path of the pins 46,48, 50 and 52. A cross piece 206d extends perpendicularly from theapproximate midsection of portion 206a and an actuating arm 206e dependsfrom the leftmost portion thereof with the structure as shown in FIG.14. Lever 202 of music box 200 is received within an opening at thelowermost portion of portion 206e and thus moves with said portion. Aspring 210 secured to housing 10 biases frame member 206 in a downwardsdirection.

In operation a sufficient unwinding rotation of sheave 38 results inframe member 206 being elevated by one of the pins 46, 48, 50 and 52secured to the back of the sheave raising the toothed end of the framemember. This results in arm 2062 elevating lever 202 with the resultthat music box 200 will play. Further rotation of the sheave results inthe pin which elevated the toothed end of frame 206 moving to the leftrelative to the toothed end of the frame so the frame descends under theinfluence of gravity and spring 210. When this occurs the music box nolonger plays since lever 202 will be in the position seen in FIG. 14 inwhich position the music box is idle.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10 a modification ismade in the escapement mechanism and like parts throughout the FIGS. areidentified by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 10 a lever 240 ispositioned so that one end will be beneath liquid filled tube 106 whenthe tube is in a vertical position. A horizontal transverse pivot 242 isprovided for the lever. Located on lever 240 at the end beneath the tubeis a magnet 244 having its north pole facing tube 106. L0- cated at thesame end of lever 240 adjacent the magnet is a stop 246 and acounterweight 248 is located on the other end of the lever. A magnet 250is located directly above tube 106 when the tube is in a verticalposition and has its north pole facing the tube for a reason that willsoon be apparent.

in operation, if the tube is in the vertical position shown in FIG. withthe magnets in the middle of the tube descending toward the bottom underthe influence of gravity counterweight 248 will maintain lever 240 in aposition so that stop 246 will prevent rotation of tube 106. However,when the magnets within the tube descend to the bottom of the tube themoment resulting from the repulsion of the bottom magnet in the tube andmagnet 244 about pivot point 242 is greater than the combinedrestraining moments about said pivot point as a result of the staticfrictional force between stop 246 and the tube and the force exerted bycounterweight 248 so that the lever will pivot in a clockwise directionas seen in FIG. 10, causing the stop to clear the tube so that the tubecan rotate. As soon as tube 106 has rotated a few degrees there will beno magnetic force urging lever 240 to rotate in a clockwise directionand the weight of counterweight 248 will move the lever to a horizontalposition against fixed pin 249 so that stop 246 prevents furtherrotation of tube 106 near the end of its next 180 movement.

Magnet 250 serves to accelerate initial downward movement of the magnetswithin the tube from a position when the magnets are at the top of thetube since magnet 250 is arranged so as to apply a repulsive force tothe then top magnet in the tube. If desired, a similarly positionedmagnet can be utilized in the embodiment of the invention hereinbeforedescribed.

When using the mobile of the invention housing 10 can be adjusted to acrib so that the objects of interest will be in a position of maximuminterest for a baby lying on the bottom of the crib. It is to be notedthat in normal use the mobile will be tilted so as to be inclinedtowards a baby in the crib and this allows the baby to have maximumexposure to the objects as they rotate.

If desired, tube 106 may be pellucid and a pellucid housing may beplaced about the escapement mechanism and drive therefore with key 90extending therethrough so that a person may rotate the key to supplyenergy to the spring motor. The reason for having a pellucid housing isthat the movement of the escapement mechanism, to wit, tube 106, and thestop therefore, as well as the drive, provides entertainment and willmaintain a young childs interest who is looking at the back of themobile as it is operating.

While clamping means have been described in conjunction with the mobileof the present invention the mobile could be mounted on a stand withmeans being provided to vary the inclination of the mobile to differentorientations. These different orientations can provide differentperspectives to a person looking at the mobile to maintain his interestlonger than if only one orientation was obtainable.

As can be seen in FIG. 14 a clamp 320 can be attached to a crib and thedriven mobile of the present invention is secured to the clamp by wingnut 322. The

wing nut can be loosened and the angle of inclination of the drivenmobile varied with the wing nut securing the driven mobile at anydesired inclination. By varying the inclination of the driven mobile theenjoyment of the infant or young child can be further increased.

It is to be noted that while an intermittently sounded music box andchime have been described in conjunction with the present invention abell or any other similar audible means could be utilized therewithalso.

While the escapement mechanism present invention has been disclosed inconjunction with a driven mobile the escapement could be used in otherenvironments, as an example, the escapement could be used in controllingrotation of a sign, a plaque, etc. Additionally, the escapement insteadof having a spring motor could be driven by a power pulley having aweight attached thereto which urges the pulley to rotate.

If desired, a battery driven motor 300 may be utilized to rotate shaft41 with a battery 301 for motor 30 secured to the housing (FIG. 15).

As a result of the step-up gearing between shafts 41 and and shafts 70and 84 and the escapement mechanism, motor 34 will intermittently unwindin small increments which results in larger increments of rotation ofshaft 70 and the objects which are rotatable therewith. Consequently, ittakes a long period of time for the motor to unwind in this manner andthe mobile is operative for this time overcoming one of the drawbacks ofprior art mobiles. A typical running time for a toy such as illustratedis fifteen minutes with a single full windup of the motor.

While a plurality of arms are shown extending from hub 14, a disc couldbe rotatable therewith or without objects of interest supported by thedisc.

lt is thus apparent that devices are provided which achieve the objectsof the invention as well as other objects not specifically herein setforth, and that are well adapted to meet the conditions of practicaluse.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes may be made in the embodiments set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein described or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described the invention there is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent:

1. A driven mobile comprising:

1. an object of interest,

2. means rotatable about an axis, means mounting said object of intereston said means for rotation therewith,

3. a spring motor,

4. means connecting said motor to said rotatable means to rotate saidrotatable means about said axis, and

5. means for intermittently stopping said connecting means, said meansfor intermittently stopping said connecting means comprising;

a. a container drivenly rotatable with said rotatable means,

b. a pair of magnets received within said container with like poles ofeach magnet facing the other magnet,

0. means for allowing said magnets to move together relative to saidcontainer,

d. a stop movable to a first position where it prevents rotation of saidcontainer and movable away from the first position,

e. means for moving said stop to the first position and away from thefirst position after the con tainer has been stopped for more than apredetermined amount of time, said stop moving means including a thirdmagnet fixed relative to said stop and for moving said stop, said thirdto be self-winding about said first sheave when both of said sheaves arefree to rotate, means for rotating said second sheave to wind saidstressed material thereon, and said rotatable means rotatable in unisonwith said second sheave when said stressed material winds itself aboutsaid first sheave.

3. A driven mobile according to claim 1 wherein said motor is a constanttorque spring motor.

1. A driven mobile comprising:
 1. an object of interest,
 2. meansrotatable about an axis, means mounting said object of interest on saidmeans for rotation therewith,
 3. a spring motor,
 4. means connectingsaid motor to said rotatable means to rotate said rotatable means aboutsaid axis, and
 5. means for intermittently stopping said connectingmeans, said means for intermittently stopping said connecting meanscomprising; a. a container drivenly rotatable with said rotatable means,b. a pair of magnets received within said container with like poles ofeach magnet facing the other magnet, c. means for allowing said magnetsto move together relative to said container, d. a stop movable to afirst position where it prevents rotation of said container and movableaway from the first position, e. means for moving said stop to the firstposition and away from the first position after the container has beenstopped for more than a pre-determined amount of time, said stop movingmeans including a third magnet fixed relative to said stop and formoving said stop, said third magnet positioned so that if either magnetin the container is adjacent said third magnet, said third magnet isrepelled, thereby moving said stop from the first position.
 2. meansrotatable about an axis, means mounting said object of interest on saidmeans for rotation therewith,
 2. A driven mobile according to claim 1wherein said motor is a spring motor and includes a first rotatablesheave and a second rotatable sheave, a strip of spring material joinedto said first and second sheaves and windable about either of saidsheaves and stressed so as to be self-winding about said first sheavewhen both of said sheaves are free to rotate, means for rotating saidsecond sheave to wind said stressed material thereon, and said rotatablemeans rotatable in unison with said second sheave when said stressedmaterial winds itself about said first sheave.
 3. A driven mobileaccording to claim 1 wherein said motor is a constant torque springmotor.
 3. a spring motor,
 4. means connecting said motor to saidrotatable means to rotate said rotatable means about said axis, and 5.means for intermittently stopping said connecting means, said means forintermittently stopping said connecting means comprising; a. a containerdrivenly rotatable with said rotatable means, b. a pair of magnetsreceived within said container with like poles of each magnet facing theother magnet, c. means for allowing said magnets to move togetherrelative to said container, d. a stop movable to a first position whereit prevents rotation of said container and movable away from the firstposition, e. means for moving said stop to the first position and awayfrom the first position after the container has been stopped for morethan a pre-determined amount of time, said stop moving means including athird magnet fixed relative to said stop and for moving said stop, saidthird magnet positioned so that if either magnet in the container isadjacent said third magnet, said third magnet is repelled, therebymoving said stop from the first position.